We live in a world where stress and anxiety have become commonplace. Neither the stay-at-home caregiver, the eight-hour-a-day office worker, nor the high-powered executive is immune to the pressures of life.
As we all bear our respective daily loads, we look around for tools and techniques we can use to ease the burden. Thankfully, there is help available, and anyone can access it. Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) tapping and Reiki therapies effectively allow us to have better physical, mental and emotional health.
EFT tapping and Reiki are two complementary therapies that can be used to treat many of the typical side-effects of modern life, from depression and bad sleep patterns to persistent aches and pains. Whether you are learning these therapies for yourself or others, they are sure to reduce stress, ease signs of trauma and grief, and boost the overall sense of wellness and productivity.
Here is some basic information you need to know about EFT and Reiki:
What Are The Origins and Science Behind EFT Tapping?
EFT has much in common with acupuncture – but don't worry, no needles are involved! Like acupuncture, EFT works with the body's meridians or energy lines. The main difference is that the appropriate points are accessed and activated through gentle tapping rather than needling.
The technique was developed by Gary Craig in the 1990s, drawing on the earlier work of Roger Callahan and his theory of Thought Field Therapy (TFT). Craig set out to refine and simplify Callahan's techniques while working with a scientific, evidence-based methodology to demonstrate that they yielded definite, measurable results.
He ultimately published his findings and techniques on his website. Since then, many holistic therapists have enthusiastically adopted the techniques and used them to great effect, while researchers continue to test them and publish their findings in peer-reviewed journals.
What Are The Benefits Of EFT Tapping?
EFT entails a holistic, full-body approach to physical, mental and emotional health. It is exceptionally easy to learn and requires no equipment. It is gentle, completely non-invasive and does not involve any medication. It does not take long to master the techniques. Once you have, you can apply them either to yourself or others to provide effective relief from:
- Stress.
- Trauma.
- Fear and Phobias.
- Grief.
- Anger.
- Anxiety and panic.
- Addictions and Compulsions.
- Physical Pain and Distress.
- Low Self-Confidence.
Is EFT Tapping Easy To Use?
EFT can just as easily be performed by a practitioner or for self-healing. It is an easy-to-implement tool that involves a sequence of light tapping on meridian points. You can do it any time you need to – when relaxing at home, sitting in slow-moving traffic, or at your desk. You simply follow this basic sequence while focusing on one issue at a time:
- Identify the problems or fears you are experiencing.
- Evaluate the stress level associated with the problem using a scale of 0-10.
- Start your session with a set-up statement while tapping on the side of your hand. This identifies the issue, affirms your self-acceptance and states your intention in connection with the issue. E.g. Even though I have "this problem" I completely love and accept myself"
- Begin the tapping sequence, tapping lightly on specified sites as you stay focused on your problem area with short reminder phrases.
- Once the sequence is completed, rate your level of distress.
- Continue the process until you have lowered your feelings of distress to a manageable level or until they are cleared
- This may take several rounds
Carrying out tapping sequences on oneself has been shown to alleviate several common mental and emotional problems. It lowers the heart rate and blood pressure and reduces cortisol levels in the body. To get these effects, you don't have to learn a lot of different acupuncture sites along the entire length of your body. The locations most commonly used to deal with most issues are:
- Three Locations Around The Eyes.
- Above And Below The Lips
- The Collarbone.
- Below the armpit
- The Top Of The Head.
- Remember to only tap on the bony parts – not on soft tissue
What Are The Health Benefits of Reiki?
Whereas EFT developed only very recently, Reiki dates back some 2500 years. It is an energy healing technique first developed in India around 500BC. It gradually found its way to Japan via China, where it was used for many years before being forgotten. In the late 19th Century, it was rediscovered by a school headmaster and Christian minister named Dr Mikao Usui. Usui's version of Reiki has since become popular worldwide, as its adherents have quickly come to recognize and appreciate its benefits. It doesn't cure diseases but effectively relieves illness symptoms and improves overall wellbeing and allows your own body to do the healing work it is capable of.
The technique provides the following benefits:
- Balances Your Organs and Bodily Functions.
- Supports Natural Healing.
- Re-Establishes Emotional Equilibrium and Mental Well-Being.
- Promotes Creativity.
- Balances Bodily Energy.
- Supports the body and assists it to overcome and manage symptoms of Illness.
- Promotes Relaxation.
- Detoxifies the Body.
- Strengthens Immune System.
- Enhances Personal Awareness and Intuition.
What Are The 7 Chakras, And How Are They Used?
According to ancient Indian wisdom and carried down through the traditions of yoga, Ayurveda, Chinese medicine and Reiki, the chakras are the seven main energy centers of the body. They are located at different points along the length of the spine, and each corresponds to different aspects of our physical and emotional bodies.
The word "chakra" actually means "wheel" in Sanskrit, so you can imagine them as freely-spinning wheels of energy – when they are open and unblocked, that is. Due to trauma and stress, the chakras can often become blocked or constrained, resulting in distress or dysfunction in our bodies. Practices such as yoga, meditation and Reiki serve to remove any blockages and get the chakras spinning and flowing freely again.
The seven chakras are as follows:
- Root Chakra (Muladhara): The root chakra is located in the perineum area at the base of your spine. It represents our foundation and corresponds to our sense of security and basic survival needs.
- Sacral Chakra (Swadisthana): The second chakra is about two inches below the navel. It controls our sense of abundance, pleasure, and sexuality.
- Solar Plexus Chakra (Manipura): In the upper abdomen, more or less in line with the stomach, the solar plexus chakra is the center of self-confidence, self-worth and self-esteem.
- Heart Chakra (Anahata): As the name suggests, the heart chakra is located in the center of the chest. It controls love, joy and inner peace. Those with a blocked heart chakra may experience difficulty connecting with and opening up to others.
- Throat Chakra (Visuddha): Situated in the center of the neck, the throat chakra controls self-expression, communication and truth.
- Third-Eye Chakra (Ajna): In between your eyebrows is the third-eye chakra, which governs intuition, imagination and wisdom.
- Crown Chakra (Sahasrara): The ultimate chakra is at the very top of the head, representing spiritual connection, inner and outer beauty and access to higher consciousness.
How Often Should EFT Tapping And Reiki Be Done?
Your energy is unique, and your issue is unique. The frequency of EFT therapy will depend on the intensity of the condition being treated. To determine the number of times you need to tap EFT each day, you must consider many factors; for example, intense or chronic problems are best approached with a long view. The benefits are cumulative, so you will see them increase over time.
As for Reiki, a practitioner will normally consider the specifics of the case and then recommend the frequency and number of treatments to resolve the issue. Generally speaking, though, Reiki sessions last around 60 minutes. Any shorter, and you may not have sufficient time to unwind and open yourself to the healing provided by Reiki.
Learn EFT And Reiki For Yourself, Your Family Or Your Co-Workers.
EFT and Reiki are both wonderful techniques for dealing with life’s difficulties. You can learn them in a short time and then have the ability to perform them on yourself, on your loved ones or, once qualified, as part of a wellbeing initiative. Learn it once; use it forever.
At Holistic Training and Therapies, you can learn these valuable skills from experienced practitioners through affordable, easy-to-follow courses. These include Usui Reiki Levels 1, 2 and 3, as well as Karuna Reiki and a simple Introduction to EFT course. Contact us for more information if you would like to master EFT tapping or Reiki therapies.
